Trail bike riders use the walkway as a short cut, endangering children

Oakdale walkway a ‘public safety issue’

Banksia Place residents Geordie Crawford and Arron Agius are concerned that children could be injured if Wollondilly Council does not install another barrier to stop trail bike riders using a pedestrian walkway. Pictures: Ashleigh Tullis

Oakdale residents in Banksia Place are urging Wollondilly Council to replace an inadequate vehicle prevention barrier after two children were nearly hit by a trail bike rider.

Geordie Crawford said the metal, square barriers stopped cars but motorbikes could easily ride along the pedestrian path and through the barriers.

He and neighbour Arron Agius want another metal barrier to be installed behind the existing barriers to forced riders to slow down and walk around them. They also want the same barriers to be installed at the other end of the path.

Mr Crawford said motorbike riders travelled from Burragorang Road through the walkway to Banksia Place as a short cut to Barkers Lodge Road.

“On February 4, my neighbour and I were outside watching his young son and friend ride around on their bikes in the cul de sac,” Mr Crawford said.

“Then a trail bike rider roared through the street going, what I estimate to be, in excess of 60 kilometres per hour.

“It was a near miss. It is only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed.

“The barrier needs to be fixed immediately.”

It is only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed.

Geordie Crawford

Mr Crawford wants to see action taken on what he describes as a “clear public safety issue not just a maintenance issue”.

“What are the priorities of the council around the public safety of residents and young children?” he said.

“Students use the walkway to get to school and there are inherent critical safety issues.

“It is not good enough and I have not seen a council worker come to inspect it.”

Mr Crawford said he wrote a letter to the council about the issue.

Council’s infrastructure and environment director Michael Malone said action was being taken.

“Based on Mr Crawford’s description – being a functionality issue rather than a damaged asset presenting an immediate danger to the public – we have programmed an inspection for within the week,” he said.

“That will determine if there is any scope for altering the barriers to limit motorcycle access.